Alex Silva lands a punch on Yoshitaka Naito as he became the new ONE Strawweight Champion at ONE: Warriors of the World. Photo from ONE Championship.
BANGKOK — Alex Silva meant business when he stepped inside the cage and at the end of the night, he emerged as the new strawweight Champion after dethroning Yoshitaka Naito in the main event of ONE: Warriors of the World Saturday at Impact Arena here.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert showcased his improved striking game, keeping the match on a vertical base as the reigning champion desperately tried to take the fight on the ground.
Though Naito found a second wind late, Silva just had enough to deny the Japanese and inflict the former its first defeat.
Alex Silva is the new @ONEChampionship Strawweight Champion! pic.twitter.com/mNJR7SDzUW
— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) December 9, 2017
Silva (7-1) annexed his winning streak to six straight wins, as Naito (12-1) bowed for the first time in his professional MMA career.
“I feel like a dream. If it’s a dream, please don’t wake me up,” said Silva.
READ: Filipinos falter at ONE: Warriors of the World
Meanwhile, Rasul Yakhyaev (11-6) earned himself a title shot against featherweight and lightweight Champion Martin Nguyen after he edged hometown bet Shannon Wiratchai (8-2) by unanimous decision in the co-main event.
After a largely uneventful first round, the Russian contender solved the puzzle that was Wiratchai as he had a counter for every shot the Thai threw.
Though Wiratchai made a last-gasp attempt as he fired away with a flurry of strikes late in the third round, Yakhyaev proved to be the steadier fighter to eke out the win.
Youth prevailed over experience as Christian Lee (8-1) pulled off a masterful win over 40-year-old Kotetsu Boku (26-12-2) with a first round knockout.
The Singaporean prodigy caught the Japanese veteran with a German suplex before he unloaded a barrage of strikes to win the bout at the 3:23 mark of the opening round.
Riku Shibuya (14-4-2) also silenced the home crowd as he made Thai strawweight contender Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke (8-3) submit to his guillotine choke at the 2:36 mark of the first round.
Filipinos failed to end the year on a high note as all four fighters, bannered by Team Lakay’s April Osenio, suffered defeats in their respective matches.